Game apparatus.



No. 733,365. PATENTED JULY 14, 1903.

M. S. BLISS.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 2, 1902.

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MELVILLE s. BLISS, OF GAYLORD, MICHIGAN;

CAM E APPARATUS;

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 733,365, dated July 14, 1903.

Application filed December 2, 1902. Serial no. 133,583. (No ads.)

To (all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MELVILLE S. BLISS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gaylord, in the county of Otsego and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices employed for games of various kinds, more particularly those in which a cushioned table is employed in connection with rolling balls and means for accelerating the movements of the balls, and has for its object the production of a game-table having an elevated cushioned rim and preferably with foldable legs and an interchangeable inclined chute and movable bridge having spaced transverse apertures.

The invention consists in certain novel features of the construction, as hereinafter shown and described, and specified in the claims.

In the drawings illustrative of the invention, in which corresponding parts are designated by like denoting characters in all the figures, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device when used in connection with the notched bridge. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the device employed in connection with the inclined chute or bowling-alley attachment. Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional elevation. Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partially in section, showing the leg members folded.

This improved device comprises a table member 10, having an elevated cushioned rim 11, the table formed of any suitable size and the rim projecting above its outer edge upon all sides and preferably provided with a yieldable cushion upon its inner side, the cushion being indicated at 12 in Fig. 3. The table will be covered with suitable material, such as felt, (indicated at 13,) and the cushioned rim will likewise be covered with the felt or other fabric, as indicated at 14.

The construction and manner of attaching the rim 11 and its cushion 12 and felt covering 14 are clearly shown in Fig. 3, the rim and cushion being covered with the felt material 14, as shown, the rim provided with an outer binder member 15, and the whole connected to the body 10 of the table, as by screws 16, at suitable intervals, as shown more clearly in Fig.

' 3. This makes a very complete easily-sip plied structure, whereby the felt both upon the table and upon the rim are secured in place by one set of binder-screws 16, and is an important feature of the invention, as it secures the desired results in a very simple and efficient manner and without increasing the weight and expense.

Resting loosely upon the table 10 is an inclined chute-board 17, having a flexible felt, rubber, or other suitable coveringlS and with spaced channels 19 adjacent tothe edges of the felt covering, as shown. ends the channels 19 terminate in pockets 20 to support the balls 21, by which the game is played, when not in use. The felt covering 18 is extended beyond the thinner end of the chute, as shown at 22, to support the tenpins 23 or other objects which it is desired to strike with the balls rolled down the chute. By this means the material which covers the table 10 will be protected from the impact of the balls rolling down the chute and unequal wear upon the table-covering prevented.

The under side of the inclined chute will be provided with transverse recesses 24, adapted to engage the rim 11 at one end of the table and provide a sufficient support to the chute to preventits displacement accidentally or longitudinal movement upon the table while in use.

The table 10 will be supported by hinged legs 25, the legs adapted to be folded in alinement with the table, as shown in Fig. 4, when the device is not in use and enable it to be stored or transported conveniently. The leg members will be supported in their open position, as shown in Fig. 3, by springs, supports, or braces 26, the brace members formed to likewise support the legs in their folded position, as shown in Fig. 4:. By this simple arrangement when it is required to distend the legs, as in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, it is only necessary to turn them outward in opposite directions with SLlffiClGllll force to overcome the tension of the springs, and when the legs are in position at right angles to the table the spring-catches will engage them, as shown in Fig. 3,.and support them rigidly in their open position. When it is desired to fold the legs,

it is only necessary to depress the outer ends of the springs until they are free from the leg At their upper members, when the latter can be folded, as in Fig. 4.

Connecting the leg members at one end is a transverse rod 27, adapted to support the chute member 17, as shown in Fig. 3, theinner end of the chute member being support ed as by a link 28. By this simple means the chute member may be readily supported in position when not in use, and when inthis position the spaced channels 19 and pockets 20 provide means for temporarily supporting the balls 21, which for the time being are not employed in the games being played upon the table. The table 10 also provides a means of support for a bridge member 29, having spaced pockets or notches 30 and supported in an erect position by hinged wings 31, the wings adapted to be turned at right angles to the bridge 29 when in use, as shown in Fig. 1, or folded into alinement with the bridge member when not in use to enable the bridge member to be stored away or transported conveniently. By this arrangement the bridge member may be located at any desired point upon the table in position to receive the balls 2l,which maybe rolled against it or driven against it by ones or mallets, a number of which are shown at 32 in Fig. 1.

The various notches 30 may be numbered or otherwise designated and suitable rules adopted, regarding the value of each of the notches; but as these rules may be varied to any desired extent they are not further described, as they form no part of the present invention.

The table 10 will preferably be provided with a drawer 33 to hold the balls and other similar devices when not in use.

The leg members 25 will preferably be provided with rubber or other yieldable tips 34 to protect thefloors and carpets from abraslon.

By this simple means a very simple, cheap, and convenient game-board is produced, upon which a variety of games maybe played and which will be found very convenient and useful for the purposes described and may be employed for the amusement of children or adults and will enable the players to exercise their skill, as well as being employed for pastime merely.

The parts may be constructed of any desired size, and changes may be made in the proportions and minordetails without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A game apparatus comprising a table having an upwardly-projecting rim, an in clined chute having a flexible cover extended beyond the thinner end of the chute to support the tenpins or other objects, the thicker end of the chute extending beyond the table and provided with recesses engaging said rim and preventing the displacement of the chute, substantially as described.

2. A game apparatus comprising a table member having an upwardly-projecting rim, su pporting leg members foldably disposed rel ative to said table and connected by transverse rods, means for locking said leg members in their open position, and an inclined chute adapted to rest upon the table when in use and supported upon said transverse rods when not in use, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HELVIL'LE S. BLISS.

\Vitnesses:

A. D. MARsHALL, E. G. HACKNEY. 

